Visa approvals - appointment or just queue???

Spon Farmer

Hi,

Is it necessary to book an appointment for Visa approvals in embassies or is it just a "first come first served" situation?

I'm asking about embassies in general and the Chinese Consulate in particular.

Their 24 hour hotline is only open 3 to 4 pm Monday to Thursday

I couldn't get through yesterday or today.

Cheers

Milesandmiles

Spon Farmer wrote: »

Hi,

Is it necessary to book an appointment for Visa approvals in embassies or is it just a "first come first served" situation?

I'm asking about embassies in general and the Chinese Consulate in particular.

Their 24 hour hotline is only open 3 to 4 pm Monday to Thursday

I couldn't get through yesterday or today.

Cheers

If funds aren't an issue I'd go with visa first. It will cost you about €60 extra but save you a world of heartache. From what I gather the times are more of a "guideline". Also if you there are any tricky questions about the application the visa people know the "correct" answers.

Skillsrec

When I went for mine I went straight to the consulate. It may require a few trips (depending on how demanding they are these days). To get my approval I needed bank statements (to prove I could support myself for the given visit) Tickets (flights, train etc.) in and out of the country, if flying to a country that requires a visa they will probably ask for a copy of it, accommodation booking. I got mine when the Olympics were on over there, so security was really high. Maybe they have slackened off a little since..
Hope this helps

Oh, and make sure you enter BEFORE the date on the visa, most visas require you entering after the stated date. I foolishly didn't read the small print on the visa and was refused entry and was sent to Mongolia. Great trip though

Spon Farmer

Thanks, skillsrec.

Spon Farmer

Milesandmiles wrote: »

If funds aren't an issue I'd go with visa first. It will cost you about €60 extra but save you a world of heartache. From what I gather the times are more of a "guideline". Also if you there are any tricky questions about the application the visa people know the "correct" answers.

Thanks for responding, miles. - I didn't acknowledge earlier because I didn't see your post - this happened too in a another thread.

I don't understand your post, though. What do you mean by "If funds aren't an issue I'd go with visa first. It will cost you about €60 extra but save you a world of heartache."?

BuffyBot

It's a service that handles visa applications on people's behalf.

tatli_lokma

Every embassy/consulate will have their own system and processing time. Also, a lot of embassies don't even process visas in their Irish office (such as the Aus Embassy). So there is no blanket answer. Best to ring the particular embassy you are wanting to enquire about and ask them direct or check their website.

http://ie.china-embassy.org/eng/xbwz/lxwm/

Spon Farmer wrote:

Their 24 hour hotline is only open 3 to 4 pm Monday to Thursday

don't see anything on their website about a 24 hour visa hotline. The 24 hour line is for consular emergencies. Visa section is clearly listed as being available between 3-4pm Tues to thurs.

Visa Section

118 Merrion Road, Dublin 4, Ireland

Tel:01-2196651

(Inquiry hotline,only available between 3-4pm from Tuesday to Thursday)

Fax:01-2196647

Probably explains why you couldn't get through all day Monday!!! :rolleyes:

Spon Farmer

Little Ted wrote: »

don't see anything on their website about a 24 hour visa hotline. The 24 hour line is for consular emergencies. Visa section is clearly listed as being available between 3-4pm Tues to thurs.

Probably explains why you couldn't get through all day Monday!!! :rolleyes:

Contact us:

E-mail: chinaemb_ie@mfa.gov.cn

The enquiry hot line 01-2196644 available for 24 hours.

Tel: 01-2196651(only available from 15:00pm to 16:00pm on Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Thursdays)

Fax: 01-2196647

Website: http://ie.chineseembassy.org

What I didn't notice at the time was that there is two phone numbers,

That is is fair bad on my part

I managed to get my questions answered by another source, but now I have new ones and I have wait.

Even during the hour, I couldn't get through last week.

pabloaimar

Typically I have left my visa application to the last minute and am now panicking a bit after reading these posts.

We will be entering China via Vietnam in February next year (leaving for Thailand first in 2.5 weeks) but have not booked a train or bus or anything yet. We have a rough itinerary of a route to Hong Kong (Hanoi - Nanning - Guangzhou -HK) a hotel booking and departing flight from HK. Will more detail be required for certain? is their a fast track process and if i am not going to get it in time will they be able to mail it on to me if i have left the country?

Also I wondered if anyone knows if I would be able to go to the consulate with the applications for both myself and my wife if she cant get off work to go in person? Are they likely to require us both to go in person?

Finally does anyone have any idea of the cost for a single entry tourist visa?

Any help/advice is appreciated.

munchkin_utd

and.....
the Chinese embasy wouldnt have these questions answered ?
no, of course not

http://ie.china-embassy.org/eng/qzs/

pabloaimar

Thanks. that answered all 1 of my questions....

Plus i usually find people's experiences to be much more helpful than a website's static Q & A secton.

Appreciate the pointer all the same.

munchkin_utd

pabloaimar wrote: »

Thanks. that answered all 1 of my questions....

Plus i usually find people's experiences to be much more helpful than a website's static Q & A secton.

Appreciate the pointer all the same.

well, theres more than one question answered as the question of costs and the applying for someone else and whether they'd mail back a passport is indeed answered explicitly over the couple of visa/ FAQ pages.

Also, the mail back of "a visa" abroad isnt possible in theory anyhow as its normally stuck into the passport, which you will need to have to actually leave the country.
I also presume you only have the one passport, as you only get 2 in exceptional cases if you are the type of person who is constantly on the go and requring visas and needs to travel when one passport is out of action with getting a visa attached (so in practice someone who'd be off to Russia/ China and the likes very often)

and back on topic, they do seem to require that you are fairly precise with your travel plans.
This also on from the Dublin embassy website

L Visa (EDIT: Tourist visa)

Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation, etc. or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China. The invitation letter should contain:

(1) Information on the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)

(2) Information on the planned visit (arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, etc.)
(3) Information on the inviting entity or individual (name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, signature of the legal representative or the inviting individual)